EE: Outstanding in-store agility keeps mobile giant motoring

Ubiquity and security were key factors for EE in choosing BT to connect its 560 retail stores

Network helps transform the customer experience

EE retail outlets are busy places. The need for real time transactions means a fast, dependable network is business critical so EE chose to transition the company’s stores to a single network provider. And BT was able to provide the right secure services everywhere they were needed.

The next big initiative was to empower store staff with tablet computers over a BT provided and managed in-store wireless network. That inspired decision created an agile sales environment that’s helping transform the customer experience while boosting revenue per transaction.

The transition to BT was cost neutral but the advantage is that we now have a faster and fully resilient managed service linking all our stores.”- Rob Purdy, Director IT Development and Vendor Management, EE

Fast facts

Chosen in 2012, a BT WAN links 560 EE retail outlets

EE selected BT for network ubiquity and security

Increasingly stores are being connected over superfast broadband

EE data centres linked via BT IP Connect at 1Gbps

EE has a faster and fully resilient managed service linking all its stores

BT now rolling out in-store Wi-Fi for greater business efficiency

Dependable network services

In today’s retail environment almost everything is done electronically. This makes the wide area network connecting retail stores with data centres and beyond an essential highway. Most EE stores are connected over Superfast Broadband at up to 80Mbps or ADSL at up to 24Mbps.

Sensitive data takes tight security

Security is paramount in a retail environment. BT provides EE with a range of managed security services from the BT Security portfolio, helping the company conduct transactions with total confidence.

Secure Internet Gateways enable web traffic connectivity

Connection of stores to the two EE data centres is via BT IP Connect using twin bearers running at 1Gbps for class-leading 99.999 per cent availability.

In-store agility

In-store Wi-Fi allows customer engagement at the point of decision. This can help influence the purchase and raise revenue per transaction. Moreover key store apps, customer data, product information, ordering and check-out at store staff’s fingertips is improving customer service.

BT – the retail specialists

BT offers a unique combination of IT and communications services tailored for the retail sector including a host of specific retail applications and solutions that can boost efficiency and enhance the customer experience.